The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-17

gal tiger.
Just what Toinette would have
done will never be known. Fortu-
nately the tigers action decided the
matter. One of Marie's bubbles had
foated in his direction. 1t rested
lightly on the tip Of his nose and
bounding off it shimmered with
dazzling magnifcence for q second
and then collapsed
The tiger was unquestionably as
tonished. 1t beat anything that he
had ever seen in the circus. He
looked puzzled for an instant, and
then turned toward the girl with a
growl.
Hardly knowing what she was
about, Toinette mechanically blew
another bubble. 1t foated grandly
out into the open air, and in the sun
light shone with a dazzling radiance.
The tiger sat down on his launches
and followed the airy thing with his
eyes.
He was a royal looking beast, and
one of the largest Of his species. His
body was Of bright orange yellow,
with transverse bars Of black, con
trasting we'll with his white throat
and grayish face.
All this Toinette took in, together
with the brute's savage teeth, his
marvellous supleness and grace, and
his formidable claws.
800, see her whiskers," said
Marie calmly. zoos a big cat
wonderY
A sudden inspiration struck Toin-
cite, and she breathed silent prayer
BLOW, Marie, blow and keep
quiet" she whispered, "the big cat
will run away" SO saying she blew a
monster bubble and waited it to.
war a the animal.
Again the tiger showed signs OF
pleasure. He rose and arched his
long body, and rubbed against one Of
the pillars OF the piazza making a
purring noise not unlike that Of q
cat.
IF somebody would only comet
thought poor Toinette.
There was no help for it. The
bubbles had to be blown so long al
they would keep the tiger in a good
humor.
Little Marie did her part OF the
work splendidly.. Her eyes dilatec
in admiration as she saw the per
fcrmances of the big cat, but she
held her tongue aud turned out bub
bles with wonderful rapidity.
But Toiuette realized with hut
tering Of her heart that this by pla!
was only delaying the terribl,
reckoning. The visitor from Ben
gal would presently want more sub
stantial lunch than soap bubbles
He was liable to spring on them a
any moment, and it would onl.
precipitate their fate to attemp
fight.
The girls face grew paler, aud he
trembling limbs scarcely supporte,
her as she tried with quivering lip
TO blow another bubble.
Harkl What did she hear2 l
sounded like a stealtby step.
Around the corner OF the hous
came Mr.. LaRue aud two other mel
with rifles in their hands.
The tiger heard them and whirle'
about with a ierocious howl.
Two guns rang out simultaneously
and the beautiful but terrible pet 0
the menagerie bounded high in the al
and fell in the yard struggling in tn
last spasm OF death.
Mr.. LaRue sprang forward on tn
piazza and caught the fainting forr
OF Toinette.
Our neighbors stopped me jus
in time" he said, "and / left you
mother there, and we came right oil
with our guns. .
Seven feet aud half long" sal
one Of the men, coming up. You
shot did the work, LaRue. 1t struc
him in the eye"
But when the girls told thei
story. the men turned white, an
then grew enthusiastic.
Toinette aud the tiger at once b.
came the sensation OF the hour. Nc
did Marie 10 without her share {
the honors. She was petted an
!, Rugged until she was consoled for ii
: loss Of her pity big cat"
, II would die a thousand dealt
rather than 20 through il again,
. said Toinette exciiedly, when b,
! friends spoke Of the affair in h'
; presence. And il was easy TO 81
: that she meant every word Of it.